Jeffrey A Sonnenfeld in the classic HBR Review article “What Makes Great Boards Great” stressed that “The best boards know how to have a good fight” and described the idea in brief as; “They’re robust social systems: Their members know how to ferret out the truth, challenge one another, and even have a good fight now and then, foster open dissent. The willingness to challenge one another’s assumptions and beliefs may be the most important characteristic of great boards—indicating bonds strong enough to withstand clashing viewpoints. Don’t punish dissenters or forbid discussion of any subject. Probe silent board members for their opinions and the thinking behind their positions.”